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Biomedical subjects

W Kuis

Publications and source records attributed to W Kuis.

121 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Inherited deficiency of the third component of complement associated with recurrent pyogenic infections, circulating immune complexes, and vasculitis in a Dutch family.

A family is described in which 3/11 children showed a homozygous deficiency of C3, and both parents and six other children had subnormal levels of C3. The three children with selective C3 deficiency suffered repeatedly from bacterial infections, whereas the parents and the other siblings were clinically healthy. During infectious episodes the patients showed a maculopapular skin rash, and at such times immune complexes were present in the serum. Biopsy specimens of the skin lesions showed the picture of leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

Adolescent↗

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: studies on a possible defect in mitochondrial ATP resynthesis in platelets.

A possible defect in mitochondrial ATP resynthesis in platelets has been used for detection of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome carriers (Shapiro et al, 1978). The detection was based on an abnormal adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation under conditions that only the mitochondria provide metabolic energy. We evaluated the test and found false negative and false positive results which raised doubts about the applicability of the test and the nature of the underlying defect. Direct analysis of mitochondrial ATP regeneration in patients and carriers showed an impaired mitochondrial energy production which was insufficient to maintain ATP homeostasis when glycolytic energy production was inhibited. Also abnormal was the fall in metabolic ATP concentration during stimulation with adrenaline and especially with thrombin when the platelets were incubated in glucose-free medium. These data provide direct evidence for a regulation defect in mitochondrial ATP resynthesis in platelets of patients and carriers with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after treatment of nephrotic syndrome with immunosuppressive drugs.

The authors present a 4-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome who developed actue lymphoblastic leukaemia 5 months after the start of a combined treatment of alternate day prednisone and daily cyclophosphamide during 3 months. The nephrotic syndrome was due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The occurrence of leukaemia might be related to the preceeding treatment with cyclophosphamide.

Acute Disease↗

Mevalonate kinase deficiency and Dutch type periodic fever.

Dutch type periodic fever (DPF) is an autosomal recessive hereditary fever syndrome. Cases have been reported worldwide, the majority from France and The Netherlands. From infancy the patients suffer fever attacks that recur every 2-8 weeks, often precipitated by immunizations, infections or emotional stress. Fever lasts 2-7 days and can be accompanied by malaise, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, skin rashes, arthralgia, arthritis, tender lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and oral and genital ulcers. Laboratory evaluation during fever shows granulocytosis and elevated acute phase reactants. DPF is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme mevalonate kinase (MK). Besides DPF, the spectrum of MK deficiency includes a severe phenotype, mevalonic aciduria (MA). MA patients have less residual MK activity, leading to substantially higher urinary mevalonic acid excretion than in DPF. Mevalonic aciduria is characterized by mental retardation and dysmorphic features in addition to the clinical features of DPF. At the genomic level, several mutations of varying severity have been identified. The DPF phenotype is caused by one particular mild missense mutation. Most patients are compound heterozygotes for this mutation and a more severe mutation. The mechanism by which MK deficiency leads to fever is not understood. The vast majority of DPF patients have persistently elevated serum IgD and can be classified as having hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS). Conversely, most HIDS patients have MK deficiency and hence DPF, but the two disorders do not overlap entirely.

Child↗

The Dutch version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Dutch language of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease. The Dutch CHAQ was fully validated with 3 forward and 3 backward translations while the CHQ was already published and therefore it was revalidated. A total of 180 subjects were enrolled: 100 patients with JIA (17% systemic onset, 31% polyarticular onset, 18% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 34% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 80 healthy children. The CHAQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and a lower overall well-being when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic onset, polyarticular onset and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Dutch version of the CHAQ-CHQ is a reliable, and valid tool for the functional, physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA.

Adolescent↗

Safety of anti-TNFalpha therapy in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Anti-TNFalpha agents are frequently used in the treatment of severe JIA. Etanercept, a fully human soluble recombinant tumour necrosis factor p75 receptor Fc fusion protein, has been registered for the treatment of polyarticular course JIA patients who fail to respond to or do not tolerate methotrexate (MTX). Infliximab, a chimeric human-mouse monoclonal antibody to TNFalpha, is expected to be registered soon for JIA and Crohn's disease (CD) in children. As in adults, both agents are effective in controlling inflammation and inhibiting the progression of joint destruction. Despite this good clinical efficacy, the physician must remain alert for potential side effects, especially after prolonged use. This review gives an overview of the reported adverse events.

Adolescent↗

Epstein-Barr virus related central nervous system lymphoma in a child after renal transplantation.

In this report, we describe the development of a rapidly progressive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related cerebral lymphoma in an 11 year old girl, eight months after renal transplantation. No serological evidence for a persistent EBV infection was found, but Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) could be demonstrated in the tumor. The clinical course of our patient was different from EBV-related syndromes in renal transplanted patients described in previous reports. Furthermore, pathological investigations of the biopsy specimen and tumor cells obtained at necropsy revealed a discrepancy in light chain expression. The possibility that lymphoproliferative disorders represent multiclonal B cell lymphomas is discussed.

Antigens, Viral↗

Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile chronic arthritis: the role of the neuro-endocrine system.

Various factors determine the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile chronic arthritis. One of these factors is the neuro-endocrine system. In rheumatoid arthritis as well as in juvenile chronic arthritis, alterations of the autonomous nervous system do occur. In polyarticular and systemic juvenile chronic arthritis, during active disease the sensitivity for catecholamines changes. Under these conditions catecholamines cannot inhibit the immune response, which may have negative consequences for the course of the disease. In certain autoimmune animal models defects in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Studies in rheumatoid arthritis suggest a subtle insufficiency of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis in rheumatoid arthritis. Proinflammatory substances such as Substance P, as well as (locally produced) opioids may contribute to disease activity.

Animals↗

Juvenile dermato/polymyositis: a retrospective analysis of 33 cases with special focus on initial CPK levels.

Retrospective analysis of 33 patients with juvenile dermato/polymyositis showed 45% complete recovery, 26% remission (steroid dependent), 6% wheelchair-dependency, 3% deaths and 10% development of other connective tissue diseases after a mean follow up of 4 years. Patients who received 2 mg/kg of prednisone had the worst prognosis but since they apparently represent a subgroup it is questionable whether high dose prednisone was the cause of the poor prognosis. This subgroup is characterized by high CPK serum levels (a 10-fold increase or more) and an acute type of onset. An initial high ANA titer was found to predict the later development of other connective tissue disorders.

Adolescent↗

Heat-shock proteins and juvenile chronic arthritis.

Heat-shock proteins are a category of proteins that are synthesized under stressful conditions (such as increased temperatures) both by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Heat-shock proteins are a major target of the immune response and thus can be considered dominant antigens. Under physiological circumstances the response to heat-shock proteins is considered to play a role in the overall defence against bacterial infections. An aberrant immune response against heat-shock proteins may lead to autoimmunity, as illustrated by adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats. Current evidence also points towards a role of T cell immunity against heat-shock proteins in the development of human autoimmune diseases such as juvenile chronic arthritis.

Animals↗